Interview with Guest Editor Brad Smith
Posted on September 3, 2009
The Veterinary Examiner is thrilled to have Bradford P. Smith, DVM DACVIM (Large Animal Medicine) as the guest managing editor for the September issue of our newsletter which emphasizes the topic of bovine viral diarrhea. As you may know, Dr. Smith is an esteemed expert in large animal medicine and editor of the textbook, “Large Animal Internal Medicine” which had its fourth edition published in June, 2008. We thank Dr. Smith for his work on this month’s newsletter and look forward to having him return to manage future issues of The Veterinary Examiner.
We spoke with Dr. Smith about his career and the work he has done for this quintessential resource. Read on for the complete interview:
Vet Examiner: What is your training background?
Dr. Smith: After earning my BA from the University of Colorado, I graduated with my DVM from the University of California, Davis in 1970. My wife Yibi and I then joined the Peace Corps and went to Honduras. We took our son Chris with us…he was the youngest PC Volunteer! It was a really unique experience as I flew by the seat of my pants and saw horrendous infectious and parasitic diseases such as anaplasmosis, piroplasmosis, anthrax, rabies, TB, brucellosis, and lungworm. Upon returning to the States, I joined the faculty at Davis and successfully entered the ACVIM as a large animal diplomate.
Vet Examiner: What made you decide to write a book on large animal medicine?
Dr. Smith: As a large animal clinician at Davis, I loved the research, teaching and clinical work. I was mentored and encouraged by my colleagues. I talked daily to referring veterinarians and vets with questions about the cases they had, and concluded that one of the most frequently asked questions was “What haven’t I thought of that still needs to be considered?” Thus I put together the first sections of Large Animal Internal Medicine to consider this question based on the observed problems, and included an approach to each. The latter sections of the book deal with disorders in a more traditional manner. I also observed that it might be best to assemble a large number of experts to write the book simultaneously so that all sections would be ready and current when it was time to publish.
Vet Examiner: Was it difficult to put together?
Dr. Smith: The first edition required a lot of work to try to avoid duplication, yet be sure that all subjects were covered well. I recall working many weekends. The biggest reward was how enthusiastically all the people I contacted agreed to participate, and how well they wrote their sections. Although one name is on the cover, this book is really the work of many. I see myself as a coordinator. The publishing group at Mosby (now Elsevier) are terrific and guided us along to the finished product.
Vet Examiner: Has the book changed dramatically since the first edition?
Dr. Smith: The book has kept up with the times, adding diseases, treatments, vaccines, and even chapters. For example, the current fourth edition has 5 new chapters.
Vet Examiner: Did you enjoy writing the book?
Dr. Smith: It was a lot of work, but I got to know many coauthors much better and learned a tremendous amount from all the writing, reading and editing. The response to Large Animal Internal Medicine has been very gratifying. I run into people from all over the world who use it and thank me. That is VERY gratifying. So yes, I would have to say that overall I am very glad to have helped produce such a book.
Vet Examiner: Do you plan on writing any other books?
Dr. Smith: Many of us do think about writing a novel, and I have toyed with the idea of writing other books, particularly about life experiences and stories, perhaps to pass down to grandchildren. But to do so I will have to learn a new craft, and that is daunting. I do not plan to write other veterinary books.
Vet Examiner: Many consider your textbook Large Animal Internal Medicine the “bible” when it comes to large animal medicine. Was that your goal when you first wrote the book?
Dr. Smith: We certainly hoped to make it complete and useful, and the credit for success goes to the 160 authors!
Vet Examiner: How do you choose who is allowed to contribute to the book?
Dr. Smith: By watching who is writing papers in a field, giving good talks, and is an active clinician (or in a few cases research scientist). I contact the individual, and if she/he agrees to participate, then they help select other authors for the chapter. That gives the chapter leader some degree of participation, involvement and control.
Vet Examiner: How long did it take to write the original version? What about subsequent editions?
Dr. Smith: It took about 4 years to do the first edition, with many evenings and weekends dedicated to the project. For subsequent editions, again, generally 4 years. We take 2 years off, then begin the process again.
Vet Examiner: Is textbook writing a lucrative endeavor?
Dr. Smith: I and other authors have gained tremendously in terms of having our names recognized, and that has brought a number of interesting speaking engagements. There have been some royalties, but most clinicians write as a part of their university duties and professional responsibility to contributing education. Most of the authors receive very little financial remuneration per hour of work.
Vet Examiner: Now that you are retired are you still involved in veterinary medicine?
Dr. Smith: Yes, as of now I plan to do a fifth edition of Large Animal Internal Medicine, and I work part time for VetPrep, the online test preparation course for veterinary students and veterinarians planning to take national board exams. I think this is a very exciting and well implemented concept.
Vet Examiner: You spent your career training future veterinarians. Why did you not go into private practice?
Dr. Smith: I have always felt a very strong pull to public service and to helping others. When we returned from the Peace Corps, I first took a temporary position at the university in order to get back some of the lab based diagnostic skills that I had not used much for 2 years. I found that I enjoyed interacting with students and residents so much that I didn’t want to leave! In addition, my wife and I always liked the low key but academic environment of Davis, with good public schools for our children and a safe place to live. We have a cabin up in the Sierras at almost 7000 feet where we hike, bike and ski. San Francisco and the beautiful coast of northern California is only 70 miles away. The biking here is wonderful and we have lots of friends in the area. Happiness for us did not require more money which might have been available in private practice.
